River North Summary

Pros

Cons

Lots of tourist crowds

Only two subway lines run in the area

What It's Like

Art galleries, restaurants, nightclubs, upscale retail shops -- there’s a lot of everything for everyone in River North. Tourists of all kinds run around the neighborhood during the day, while young partiers fill the streets at night. Chain hotels and some of Chicago’s best restaurants share space with antiques stores and high-end boutiques, but there are also scores of cheaper options for tighter budgets and a lot of beautiful historic architecture.

Where to Stay

For proximity to the tourist sites, stay as far east -- and as close to the Magnificent Mile -- as you can afford.